CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 40-year-old Donna resident has been ordered to federal prison following her conviction of conspiring to transport two illegal aliens – a minor female and an adult registered sex offender, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Josie Arredondo pleaded guilty May 14, 2018.

Today, Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey handed Arredondo a 21-month sentence to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Arredondo had been previously convicted for the same type of offense in 2011. At that time, she had also been attempting to smuggle an undocumented female child.

In this case, authorities encountered Arredondo at the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint attempting to smuggle an undocumented four-year-old child along with the undocumented registered sex offender as passengers in her vehicle. Also inside the vehicle were her minor daughter and grand-daughter.

Arredondo claimed she was travelling to Houston to attend a funeral and took the undocumented girl and man along with her. She expected $1,000 in return for transporting them.

She was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender at a later date.